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  Joint aspirate facilitating deviceUSPTO Application #: 20080086070Title: Joint aspirate facilitating device Abstract: A joint aspirate-facilitating device is provided including a flexible main panel that is secured to the joint to be aspirated. An inflatable bladder is secured to the main panel and is placed in contact with the soft tissues overlying and surrounding the joint space. The bladder is used to apply pressure to selected areas of the joint to compress the fluid sacs in the joint. An access opening is formed in the main panel designating the location where joint fluid is to be aspirated. The joint fluid is directed to flow to the area of the joint exposed at the access opening based on the shape of the bladder that compresses surrounding areas of the fluid sacs. A conventional hand pump may pressurize the bladder or the bladder may be filled with a viscous gel material to generate pressure. Multiple access openings may be formed on the main panel designating locations where aspiration is to be conducted. For multiple access openings, plugs may be used to fill those openings where aspiration is not conducted, thereby maximizing joint fluid flow only to the selected location where aspiration is to be conducted. An ultrasound probe may be attached and incorporated into the device to confirm joint fluid displacement into the targeted location prior to need aspiration. A disposable molded sterile dressing may applied to the access opening to reduce the risk of infections. The device can be used on any joint of the body, and the particular shape of the main panel and bladder accommodates maximum joint fluid flow to the point where aspiration is desired. (end of abstract)
Agent: Sheridan Ross Pc - Denver, CO, US Inventor: Richard Meehan USPTO Applicaton #: 20080086070 - Class: 602 26 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080086070. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates to orthopedic devices used to support a joint, and more particularly, to an orthopedic appliance for facilitating aspiration of joint fluid in the knee or other joints such as the ankle or elbow. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]There are a number of orthopedic appliances that are used to support or immobilize various body parts. With respect to stabilizing or immobilizing the knee joint because of an injury, some of these orthopedic appliances include the use of inflatable air bladders for intermittently supporting and/or releasing support on the knee. One example of an inflatable knee brace includes U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,056, which describes inflatable tubes stitched into a fabric support extending vertically over a portion of the support. U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,042 describes a pillow type device strapped to the leg of a patient and then inflated. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,448 discloses a U-shaped inflatable bladder placed over the patella. U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,207 describes a linear brace employing first and second fluid filled chambers. U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,834 describes a brace for compressing a patient's outer extremities, the brace including flexible chambers arranged in a series that are then successively inflated. U.S. Pat. No. 4,960,115 describes a body support apparatus having at least two inflation chambers. U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,557 discloses a knee brace having inflatable supports extending longitudinally on both sides of the knee. [0003]The knee is perhaps the most common joint that is aspirated for purposes of diagnosing ailments of the joint. Such ailments may include infections, inflammatory or crystal arthritis, and others. The knee joint is also commonly aspirated for purposes of administering pharmaceutical agents into the knee joint such as glucocortocoids or visco-supplements. A medical practitioner attending to a patient having a knee joint ailment requires the practitioner to have certain skills in aspirating the knee, and a medical specialist such as an orthopedic surgeon or rheumatology specialist typically performs knee and other joint aspirations. A general practitioner rarely conducts knee aspirations without additional training. Accordingly, increased costs may be incurred because a medical specialist is typically required to conduct the procedure. Even with experienced specialists, knee aspirations can be difficult to perform because there is a very small area in which the aspirating needle can be inserted in the joint without striking pain-sensitive structures including bone or ligaments. [0004]Therefore, there is a need to provide a device that eases the difficulty in performing a knee aspiration procedure, thereby increasing the odds of successfully performing the aspiration without inadvertently contacting surrounding tissue or bone. There is also a need to provide a device that allows general practitioners or other non-specialists to perform the procedure by increasing the size of the area where the needle may be inserted to penetrate the fluid sac surrounding the joint. [0005]With respect to the prior art discussed above, while a number of inflatable knee brace configurations are known, none of the prior art devices provide adequate functionality for facilitating a joint aspiration procedure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006]In order to overcome the various disadvantages inherent in conducting joint aspiration procedures, and to overcome the failure of the prior art to address such needs in the medical field, a joint aspirate-facilitating device is provided to enhance the capability of a medical practitioner to successfully perform a joint aspiration procedure. The device is made of a flexible, cloth-like material that incorporates an inflatable bladder. The bladder is specially sized and positioned to place pressure on specified regions of the joint to thereby displace distended joint fluid into a targeted location. The volume and pressure of the joint fluid is increased at the targeted location thereby increasing the size and pressure of the fluid sac where the aspirating needle can be placed to successfully aspirate the joint. [0007]In a first embodiment, the joint aspirate-facilitating device resembles a traditional knee brace, but adopts unique structural features to facilitate a successful aspiration procedure. In this embodiment, the inflatable bladder is located to displace knee joint fluid from the contra lateral, superior, inferior and posterior joint regions towards a targeted location. An access opening is formed in the device at the targeted location. The aspirating needle penetrates the joint at the access opening, and the increased volume and pressure of the fluid located at the opening greatly enhances the ability of the practitioner to successfully penetrate the fluid sac. The access opening is preferably located either on the medial or lateral side of the knee joint, and is oriented to allow the medical practitioner to specifically access the suprapatellar bursae from the medial or lateral side. [0008]The device of the present invention preferably incorporates a lightweight, washable fabric with a removable inflatable bladder controlled by an external, hand-operated pump to selectively pressurize the bladder. A pressure release element is provided to release or adjust pressure. A pressure gauge may be incorporated with the hand pump to allow the practitioner to monitor the amount of applied pressure. An internal pocket may be formed on an inner side of the device placed against the patient. The bladder is secured in this pocket during use. The bladder when deflated can be easily removed from the pocket to allow the device to be washed or otherwise serviced. A closure element, such as hook and pile material, may be used to secure both the internal bladder to the pocket as well as to tightly secure the device around the joint. [0009]The device of the present invention can incorporate a disposable sterile field dressing to minimize risk of inadvertent inoculation of bacteria into the sterile cavity of the joint. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the access opening formed in the device can be used in a non-interventional procedure such as an ultrasound procedure to visualize the tissue located at the access opening. The device may include sleeves formed on the outer surface thereof to hold an ultrasound probe that is positioned at the access opening. [0010]In one preferred embodiment, a single access opening can be provided at either the medial or lateral locations for aspirating a knee joint. In another embodiment, a pair of access openings can be provided at the medial and lateral locations, and depending whether a medial or lateral approach is taken, the unused access opening is blocked with a plug thereby encouraging fluid displacement from the opposite side of the joint. [0011]Preferred embodiments are also disclosed for use of the device for other joints to include the wrist, elbow, and ankle. With these other embodiments, the basic principle of the invention is maintained: selective locational displacement of distended joint fluid to a targeted location, and providing an access opening in the device at the targeted location. The main portion of the inflatable bladder substantially encircles the joint when installed and the bladder therefore has a generally curved configuration. For the embodiments of the invention for use with the ankle and wrist joints, the main portion of the inflatable bladder may be generally cylindrical in shape when installed. [0012]With the joint aspiration device of the present invention, the increased volume and pressure of the fluid to be aspirated increases the effective size of the targeted area, thereby reducing the chance that the aspirating needle will strike bone or will strike unintended tissue such as nerves or tendons. The device can be made in various sizes to accommodate joint sizes encountered with adults, children, or obese patients. [0013]These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from review of the following drawings, taken in conjunction with the detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the joint aspirate-facilitating device of the present invention in a first embodiment for use with a knee joint; [0015]FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1, illustrating the arrangement of the inflatable bladder and other details of the invention; [0016]FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2, but further illustrating an interior liner forming a pocket for the bladder and a sterile disposable dressing placed around the access opening. [0017]FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein an access opening is provided on both the medial and lateral approaches to the knee joint; [0018]FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4, illustrating incorporation of a removable plug that is placed to apply pressure to the side of the joint not being aspirated; [0019]FIG. 6 is a plan view of the second embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5; [0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in combination with an ultrasound imaging system and incorporation of sleeves on the outer surface of the device to position an ultra sound probe; Continue reading... Full patent description for Joint aspirate facilitating device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Joint aspirate facilitating device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. 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